QUETTA: Balochistan is starting a historic journey towards progress and development with China investing $51.5 billion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar being an integral part of it, said Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri.

He was addressing the annual general body meeting of Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industries late Friday night.

“Under CPEC, industrial zones would be established at six places, including Bostan while trade centres are also being constructed at the Pak-Iran and Pak-Afghan borders,” he said, stressing that traders should tap this opportunity.

“Due to special interest of the prime minister, SROs have been issued in Gwadar and steps are underway to make it a functional free trade zone,” he added.

On the occasion, he also announced the establishment of Expo Centre in Quetta.

“Peace is inevitable for attracting the investors and the provincial government is taking all possible steps for maintaining of law and order,” he said.

Commenting further on the law and order situation in the province, he said: “Those days are long gone when members of the business community in Balochistan were scared due to kidnappings. The government is fully determined to protect each segment of the society.”

“The previous governments were afraid of terrorists. The kidnapping of traders, doctors and common citizens were widespread while the government was not backing law enforcement agencies due to which the vandals were moving freely,” he added.

“Rs5bn has been allocated for the revival of beauty of Quetta city and Rs10bn for the provision of water,” he added.

Mr Zehri said Balochistan’s business community as well as civil society condemns Indian aggression and fully supports the army.

The outgoing president of QCCI, Balochistan Jamal Khan Tarakai presented the welcome address.

The event was attended by Balochistan Minister for Educa­tion Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, MPA Nasrullah Zeray and QCCI members.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2016